Bahrain is an island nation and the smallest country on the Arabian Peninsula. It has direct access from Saudi Arabia via the King Fahd Causeway but most people enter via plane. It attracts a lot of tourists from other Gulf Countries because of its liberal laws such as permitting the drinking of alcohol. Someone once told me Bahrain pretty much exists as a place for young Saudi’s to party on the weekend.
It’s possible for most nationalities to get a visa upon arrival at Bahrain International Airport, that’s how my buddy Neil and I entered the country. The airport is in Muharraq which is just east of the capital Manama. Hotels in Bahrain are very affordable and you only need a couple of days to see all the sights, however I’d like to go back again at some point and visit the Hawar Islands. We rented a car for two days and took in as much of the country as we could.
The first place we visited was UNESCO World Heritage Site of Qal’at al-Bahrain. Also known as the Bahrain Fort or Portuguese Fort. This site was once the capital of the Dilmun Civilization. Humans have continuously inhabited this site since 2300 BC. There also a museum here where you can learn everything you might want to know about the Dilmuns. Make sure to also enjoy the amazing view of the Manama skyline.
The next place we went to was the Bahrain Camel market. This is an excellent place for families to take their children. The guards were very friendly and let us feed the camels and shoot photos.
The next place we went to was the Tree of Life. This is an interesting site that attracts a lot of visitors because it is a single solitary tree found out amongst the oil fields in Bahrain’s Southern Desert about 40 km south of Manama. It’s around 500 years old it’s unclear what sustains the tree. It has created quite the mystique amongst the locals. Best time to see the tree is at sunset.
Another spot worth visiting is the UNESCO World Heritage site known as “Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy.” This site is made up of 17 buildings spread out around the old city of Muharraq in addition to 3 offshore oyster beds and a part of the tip of Muharraq Island. The significance of pearling shaped the economy of the island for a millennia. It can be a bit of challenge to locate all the different sites, some are easier than others but if you love history and you’re up for a challenge this is worth checking out.
The last place we visited was Al Fateh Grand Mosque in downtown Manama. This is one of the largest mosques in the world. It has 4 domes and 2 minarets and can hold up to 7,000 people. They were nice enough to let us inside, gave us a tour and brief history of Islam. This was a highlight and great was to end our trip to Bahrain.
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